Volume 1, Chapter 50: Things Have Come to This

Hearing his imperial father speak thus, Li Yunyi muttered inwardly in his heart.

He certainly used to detest Zhao Wujiang, believing that Zhao Wujiang had snatched away his beloved younger sister, Li Yunrui.

Yet, after actual contact with Zhao Wujiang, he found them to be kindred spirits who both shared a fondness for erotic romance novels. More importantly, Zhao Wujiang had once saved his life.

To say he still loathed Zhao Wujiang now would be an exaggeration; presently, he only wished to find Zhao Wujiang to obtain the sequel to *The Hundred Flowers Manual of Spring*, having no real desire to defeat him at all.

What fun was there in sword-fighting with another man? If one was going to fence, it should be thrusting into a woman.

"Please enlighten me, Imperial Father," Li Yunyi said, cupping his fists with an obedient expression. "This son shall naturally obey your command."

Li Zaiyuan fished out a bright yellow martial arts manual from his bosom.

"Starting from today, I shall pass this Sacred Dragon Technique to you. You must practice it diligently. I will inspect your progress at regular intervals, and I hope you will not disappoint me."

Ah, no, Imperial Father, you cannot do this. This is not the kind of romantic literature I wanted... Li Yunyi took the manual of the Sacred Dragon Technique with a blank expression, feeling as though the sky was about to collapse. He had no desire to cultivate any profound techniques whatsoever; he only wished to enjoy a leisurely life admiring flowers and playing under the moon with young maidens.

Now it was all ruined. His imperial father intended to inspect him periodically, leaving him not even the slightest chance to slack off.

No!

Li Yunyi wailed in bitter despair within his heart as snow began to fall, drifting snowflakes and howling northern winds.

***

The next day at the morning court.

Perhaps having caught wind of some rumors, the court officials waiting inside the grand hall abandoned their usual boisterous discussions, instead murmuring in hushed tones and casting frequent glances toward the upright figure of Long Zhan and the silent Zhao Wujiang.

At last, Li Zaiyuan slowly stepped into the hall, walked straight to the exalted seat, and waved his hand casually. A eunuch before the dais stepped forward holding an imperial decree and began to read aloud.

"The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices has memorialized that the second batch of Han Sang envoys has entered the capital and been fully accommodated. This renewed entry of the Han Sang envoys is solely to escort Chiba Hizuteru back home. This matter is entrusted entirely to Zhao Wujiang to oversee. Do not disrupt the existing peace between the two nations, and ensure that Chiba Hizuteru returns smoothly with the embassy."

The assembled officials nodded. Word of this had already spread previously, and since Chiba Hizuteru was under house arrest at the prince's manor and managed by Zhao Wujiang, the arrangement seemed entirely natural.

What they cared about far more were the whispers they had heard concerning the Prince of Northern Suppression.

The eunuch before the dais continued reading.

"As peace between Great Xia and Han Sang grows increasingly steadfast, the northern borders temporarily require no permanent garrison of grand armies. Peace is hard-won, and Zhao Tingxiao, the Prince of Northern Suppression, has campaigned on the battlefields for many years, guarding the northern frontiers of Great Xia with distinguished and arduous service. My heart is deeply moved. Zhao Tingxiao is also my sworn younger brother, with whom I share a profound bond. Based on his merits, our affection, and reason, I hereby confer upon the Prince of Northern Suppression, Zhao Tingxiao, the title of Prince of the First Rank!"

"All protocols and privileges shall be equivalent to those of a Prince of the First Rank, accompanied by an annual stipend of ten thousand taels of silver and ten thousand bushels of grain."

The moment this decree was issued, the entire hall was struck dumb with astonishment.

Prince of Northern Suppression—the character for prince in this title had previously denoted a commandery prince, functioning as an appended authority bestowed upon Northern General Zhao Tingxiao without holding true territorial dominion, for the true power lay in the military command of the northern borders.

Yet today, this commandery prince of a foreign surname had actually shattered the historical hierarchy of Great Xia by being elevated to a Prince of the First Rank! From this moment on, he was ranked among the imperial kinsmen!

True to being the emperor's sworn brother, this promotion was genuinely staggering.

However, several sharp-witted officials caught a whiff of something unusual. The elevation of the Prince's rank looked far more like a superficial reward administered because his achievements had grown too vast to be further honored.

Sure enough, another imperial decree followed closely behind.

"Starting from this day, Long Zhan, the Vice Commandant of the Brave Cavalry Camp, is appointed as the Great General of the Northern Borders, holding the military command of the north. He is to drill the troops and protect the nation starting today."

The entire hall erupted in an uproar. The officials looked at Long Zhan in disbelief, only now realizing the hidden meaning behind the previous decree!

The emperor was stripping the Prince of Northern Suppression of his actual military power so the prince could live out his remaining years in ease?

Long Zhan was equally dumbfounded. For a moment, he could hardly believe it was true. He knew the emperor had always valued and favored him, but to hand over the position of Great General of the Northern Borders just like that?

A blessing in disguise; he had lost on the romantic front to Zhao Wujiang, but he had utterly crushed Zhao Wujiang in the political arena!

Had not Zhao Wujiang previously relied on the prestige of the Prince of Northern Suppression? Now that the prince had been stripped of real power, Zhao Wujiang was nothing more than a toothless tiger!

No! Zhao Wujiang could not even be called a tiger; he was merely a puppy sheltered by a tiger—a wretched dog!

"Congratulations, Vice Commandant Long... no, look at my clumsy tongue... Congratulations, General Long!"

"General Long!"

"General Long is blessed with an imposing appearance, profound talent, and exceptional martial virtue. With you guarding the northern borders, we officials can rest easy in our hearts."

"Heartiest congratulations to General Long! We hope you might grant us the honor of sharing a small cup of wine after court is dismissed today?"

"I have long maintained that Long Zhan is no ordinary man. With the emperor's discerning eyes instantly recognizing talent, and the Prince of Northern Suppression having spent half his life amidst the dust of battle earning immense merit before retiring in peace, among the younger generation in the court, who else could possibly be worthy of the post of Northern General? Only Long Zhan!"

The officials vied with one another to offer their congratulations on Long Zhan's promotion. The single greatest beneficiary of today's morning court was undoubtedly Long Zhan!

Long Zhan responded with polished courtesy and continuous, amiable nods, his heart already bursting with joy. The gloomy clouds that had weighed upon him recently were swept away, replaced entirely by elation.

Surrounded by the crowd, he basked in a moment of unmatched prominence.

***

The Prince's Manor.

Having learned the news of the day, Li Yunrui could no longer suppress the agitation in her heart as she paced back and forth beside Zhao Wujiang.

"By what right?"

"Why?"

"Why would Imperial Father strip Father of his actual power? The northern border is temporarily stable, not peaceful for all generations. Even if Father's real power had to be removed, it shouldn't have been given to Long Zhan!

Out of so many veteran generals, why Long Zhan of all people?

Isn't this intentionally targeting us?"

The more Li Yunrui thought about it, the angrier she grew. Previously, her imperial father had targeted Zhao Wujiang, and now, even after she had married into the manor, her imperial father continued to target Zhao Wujiang. She could not comprehend the reasoning no matter how hard she tried.

"This won't do!" Li Yunrui declared, turning to walk outside. "I must go and speak with Imperial Father..."

Zhao Wujiang grabbed Li Yunrui by the arm, pulled her into his embrace, and comforted her.

"There, there. I know your heart aches for me. But you needn't go and argue with the Emperor...

It is abundantly clear that the Emperor wishes to weaken the power of our father and son, turning us into obedient puppets devoid of any threat...

If you make a fuss now, you won't recover what is rightfully yours; instead, you might make him believe our family remains defiant and is openly opposing him."

"But..." Li Yunrui stared at Zhao Wujiang with watery, glistening eyes. "But this is simply too vexing. Why must it be like this? Father fought for Great Xia his entire life. I once heard the Empress Dowager say that half the credit for helping Imperial Father ascend the throne belongs to Elder Zhao.

How has it come to this now...

Could it be because of me?

Is it all because of me, because Imperial Father did not wish for me to marry into this family, that he is now targeting the Zhao family..."

"Do not blame yourself. Being able to marry a perceptive and understanding wife like you is my blessing..." Zhao Wujiang said in a gentle tone, cupping Li Yunrui's face.

"What has happened has already occurred; we must learn to accept it. To accept imperfect things, and to accept our imperfect selves..."

"You are so good..." Li Yunrui choked back tears and buried herself in Zhao Wujiang's embrace. His words of comfort only deepened her guilt, as she remained convinced that her imperial father was targeting Zhao Wujiang solely because of her.

"By the way..." Zhao Wujiang dropped all pretense and snapped his fingers. "Let me introduce two sisters to you..."

"Hmm?" Li Yunrui raised her head, a tearful trace of confusion in her eyes, only to freeze as she saw two litely graceful beauties step out from behind Zhao Wujiang.

"This is Senior Sister Ling Qingxue," Zhao Wujiang pointed to the icy and aloof Ling Qingxue, before gesturing toward the naturally enchanting Liu Ruyan. "And this is Senior Sister Liu Ruyan..."

"......" A dangerous glint slowly bloomed within Li Yunrui's eyes.